Plastics Flashcards

1
Q

What are plastics made from?

A

Plastics are examples of materials made from polymers.

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2
Q

What is a polymer?

A

A polymer is a very large molecule made from thousands of small molecules known as monomers joined together.

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3
Q

Describe addition polymerisation.

A

Addition polymerisation is the joining together of thousands of small unsaturated monomers to form a polymer.

In addition polymers the monomers are unsaturated molecules which means they have a carbon to carbon double bond, C = C.

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4
Q

Give three examples of monomers and polymers.

A

Ethene is the monomer used to make poly(ethene)

Propene is the monomer used to make poly(propene)

Vinyl chloride is the monomer used to make poly(vinyl chloride).

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5
Q

Describe how to name a polymer or a monomer.

A

To name a polymer just add “poly” to the name of the monomer and to name the monomer remove “poly” from the name of the polymer.

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6
Q

How do monomers join together during polymerisation?

A

During polymerisation, the double bonds in the monomers open up to allow them to join together.

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7
Q

What is a repeating unit?

A

A repeating unit is the shortest section of the polymer chain which if repeated would yield the complete polymer chain (except for the end-groups).

To draw the repeating unit from the polymer, take a section with 2 carbon atoms then add in the hydrogen atoms.

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